Monday, November 21, 2011

Need a Greenhouse? Check Out Steel Buildings!

Every avid gardener hates to see the growing season end, and many of those in northern states wish it would start a little sooner each year. If you live north of, say, Washington D.C., your gardening months can get squeezed into the weeks between the middle of May and the beginning of October – not much time if you’re longing to grow watermelons and other slow-to-ripen produce. Steel buildings may just offer the solution that will extend your northern growing season by a month or more on either end. If you haven’t considered the advantages of a greenhouse built from a steel building kit, you may be missing out on some of the best growing months of the year.


Many pre-engineered greenhouse kits are made of lightweight aluminum and plastic sheeting. They may work out well in warmer states, but they provide little protection from the cold – and are prone to collapse under the weight of winter snow. If you’re looking for a permanent solution – a building that will allow you to enjoy growing things for three of the four seasons – and possibly even year round – steel buildings offer strength, durability and flexibility that aluminum and vinyl structures lack.

Cost Considerations

You’ll pay a little more for a greenhouse built in a steel building than you would for lightweight aluminum frame, but when you spread that cost over twenty or more years of use, the difference doesn’t mean much. Most vinyl and aluminum greenhouses won’t last through a second season. While the cost will vary depending on the accessories and size you choose, you can conceivably build your own steel greenhouse for less than $1,000.

DIY Greenhouse from Steel Buildings

One of the most attractive aspects of using a metal building as the base for your greenhouse is that you can build it yourself. In most cases, you won’t need a foundation at all for a steel greenhouse – just sunken steel footings to secure the frame to the ground. Steel building kits come in a wide variety of styles and sizes, and come with all the parts you need to assemble the building yourself on your property.

If you’re interested in learning more about building a greenhouse, a manufacturer who deals in steel buildings can answer any questions you have, including ways to modify the standard plans for a metal building to allow for greenhouse panels or skylights to let the sun in. Why confine yourself to a four-month growing season when you can build a greenhouse to indulge your hobby for months longer?

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